Mari Hajem, Gig Review. Strings And Things, Studio 2, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

In an evening of music supplied by Stillhet’s Strings and Things, an evening in which the order of the day was showing female talent that resides in the heart of the city of Liverpool, the Nordic beating heart of atmospheric Noir-like pop tones with shades of the Progressive cleverly interwoven throughout every sinew, may not have been the first thought in many people’s minds of what to expect on the first day of the month in which the freezing cold is meant to be banished back to its Antarctica cave.

Mari Hajem, Gig Review. Strings And Things, Studio 2, Liverpool. full post

(427 words, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

Helena Johnson, Gig Review. Strings And Things, Studio 2, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Say what you will about the modern age, moan about it being over commercial, intrusive, noisy to the point of petulant or even just plain out of step with how you remember it from your childhood but as a marketing tool to get you sit up and take notice of life outside your front door, the modern age is unsurpassable.

Helena Johnson, Gig Review. Strings And Things, Studio 2, Liverpool. full post

(395 words, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

Blind Monk Trio, Gig Review. International Jazz Festival, Capstone Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Jazz still has this wild, perhaps unfounded large target placed upon its broad, rather muscular shoulders, that it is all about the improvisation, or worse the same detractors will then start shouting the odds on how it perhaps placed firmly into the stale arena. This is partly in thanks to the limited knowledge of those who wander in off the streets without at least reading up, even slightly, on the extensive and abundant subject.

Blind Monk Trio, Gig Review. International Jazz Festival, Capstone Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(440 words, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

White Canvas, Gig Review. International Jazz Festival, Capstone Theatre, Liverpool. (2015).

White Canvas at the Capstone Theatre (2015), Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

From the planting of a single tiny acorn, White Canvas has flowered, grown and developed a sound that in two short years is so good it practically wears a halo and has no need for repentance for anything it does.

Two years after making their debut as part of the Liverpool International Jazz Festival at the Capstone Theatre, White Canvas returned to the stage inside the acoustically captivating building. What transpired, what was placed before the audience was music of an intrepid, fearless and enjoyable nature, resolute in undertaking, serious enough to appeal to the purist and yet with the subtle side wink of the cheeky added to give it body and grace.

White Canvas, Gig Review. International Jazz Festival, Capstone Theatre, Liverpool. (2015). full post

(374 words, 1 image, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

The Ballad Of Mavis Stockdale.

Mavis “The Shredder” Stockdale always wanted to be a renowned guitarist,

one who could take the simplest of ideas laid down by the songwriter

and burn the opposition to the outskirts of Hell

and leave audiences gasping in the wake of a lover letter placed chord

and suffering the beauty of a well plucked string.

Above all, Mavis knew she could duel banjo, guitar, mandolin and violin,

but with sad reflection not the cello as she had seen a God play with perfection

one night in the Cavern one night, her hair flowing red but shimmering with depth

The Ballad Of Mavis Stockdale. full post

(492 words, estimated 1:58 mins reading time)

The Madness Of King March.

March stands on the precipice of life and dislikes the view.

The infant King, fawned over, lauded, feted and feared in equal measure,

the tyrant teenage regal monster and the early despot in waiting

rages. His senses coloured, polarised by anger, unhappiness and sorrow,

understands only too well that for all his blustering fury, this is not

what he was meant to be to the people in his shadow.

The blackness of the sky, the rage and fury, the odd measure of calm

in another wise incensed frenzy in which ships shiver in still icy waters ,

The Madness Of King March. full post

(468 words, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

Simon Thacker’s Svara Kanti, Gig Review. International Jazz Festival, Capstone Theatre, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Liverpool’s International Jazz Festival held at the Capstone Theatre continues to go from strength to strength and its ability to be greater than the sum of its parts is something in which Liverpool’s music community should take immense pride in; especially when it is fuses the music on offer within its walls to include a hybrid of sound so full of quality that its overflows the senses for the first time listener and holds close to its amalgamated heart those that have followed it for a while.

Simon Thacker’s Svara Kanti, Gig Review. International Jazz Festival, Capstone Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(427 words, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

Nicola Farnon Trio, Gig Review. Liverpool International Jazz Festival. Capstone Theatre, Liverpool.

Nicola Farnon, International Jazz Festival, Liverpool. 2015. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

If art is being performed with an abundance of passion then gravitate towards it with as much passion in return, for sparks and genuine appreciation will certainly run back and forth for the entire time the performer is on stage.

Nicola Farnon Trio, Gig Review. Liverpool International Jazz Festival. Capstone Theatre, Liverpool. full post

(401 words, 1 image, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

The BlueBones, Saved By The Blues. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Blues cannot be simply ignored. For quite a while and in the dim and now thankful long since past, it could and had to be, for it was in serious danger of developing a skin so thick that even the greatest and most respectful of criticisms were dealt with by purists as being a snide remark on the whole historic genre. Thankfully the armour has been dropped with the appearance of musicians such as Joe Bonamassa, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Danny Bryant and incredible and numerous others, that the genre is to the lay person and the keen amateur vital and full of passion once more.

The BlueBones, Saved By The Blues. Album Review. full post

(400 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

Ma Polaine’s Great Decline, Got Me Out Of Hell. Album Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9.5/10

A rare treat in life should be enjoyed as much as possible, it is something that should also be viewed as being perhaps as unique in your life, collection or something that you desperately want to share with the world at large. It can also be felt deep down, in the fiery pit of covertness and beautiful secrets that the soul demands you keep, is something that you know you only want your own ears to behold; even if it for the shortest while.

Ma Polaine’s Great Decline, Got Me Out Of Hell. Album Review. full post

(383 words, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)